Donna Ragowski's green thumb grows in Bulls Head

View full sizeDonna Ragowski, of Bulls Head, has tended to her front and back yards, working diligently to keep her assortment of lilies, roses, daisies, fruits, vegetables and more in the best of shape.
(Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - BULLS HEAD - Only a row of arborvitae separates pedestrians from paradise in one West Shore neighborhood.

Donna Ragowski of Bulls Head has tended to her front and back yards, working diligently to keep her assortment of lilies, roses, daisies, fruits, vegetables and more in the best of shape this summer.

The native of Poland moved to Carreau Street in 2005, and when she arrived, found her surroundings bare and plain.

In due time, she's transformed the bland space outside of her house into a garden that others admire and envy.

"I've been doing this since I was a child back in Poland," she said, mentioning that her green thumb came courtesy of her mother.

A former employee of Pfizer, she lost her job two years before settling on Carreau, and has used her time to create a soothing oasis.

A tour of her property revealed a variety of green and yellow peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, basil, parsley and zucchini. While her vegetables are impressive, it's her colorful and fragrant flowers and plants that intoxicate.

"I did everything all by myself," she said proudly, moments before she described nearly all of her blooming flowers, especially her night blooming cereus, which, she states, can make a house smell amazing.

Ms. Ragowski's potted and in-ground plants call to mind a professional nursery. Her lilies come in different shades; some are bright yellow, others are white with an inner-pink touch. Her favorite flower is a thick, crimson- rose called "Easy Does It."

At one point her evergreen shrubs grew so tall that people who walked by asked her to trim them so they could view her garden.

Not everything is green and leafy. She also cares for two prickly pear cactus plants.

Ms. Ragowski recommends investing in good soil. A lot of care is necessary, too, she said. But Mother Nature also plays a key role, she said, noting that the best ingredient for success is rain. She says one day of rain is better than 10 days of watering, and is hoping the skies open soon.

Mrs. Ragowski often shares tips with her neighbors, and provides her friends with vegetables, especially tomatoes, which she says are loved by all.

"You have to like what you're doing, otherwise you'll have no results," she said.

While gardening is her favorite pastime, her winters are occupied by extensive reading. As for her flowers, she hopes she can tend them for the rest of her life.